Mayor Jackson: Rochelle Small-Toney to resign

City Manager Rochelle Small-Toney on Wednesday verbally notified Mayor Edna Jackson of her intention to resign.

A formal announcement is expected today, and a special City Council meeting has been scheduled for 10 a.m. when the public will be allowed an hour to provide comment.

Throughout most of Wednesday afternoon, many in the city were expecting an official notification that never came.

Shortly after 5 p.m., city spokesman Bret Bell notified the media that city attorneys and an attorney for the city manager were still negotiating the terms of her departure, including when and how she would leave, her payout and compensation for any unused vacation.

For some, news of the resignation was eagerly welcomed; for others, it was viewed as a betrayal of Small-Toney, who became the city's first black and first female city manager last spring.

Jackson asked for the resignation Sept. 25 after a flurry of management issues that included a $6 million backlog and complete staff turnover of buyers in Purchasing, a botched bid that could have led to a lawsuit and the termination of the emergency management director, a business associate of the city manager. Wednesday about noon, her supporters, dwindling but vocal, gathered for an impromptu press conference outside City Hall.

Chester Dunham, one of her more ardent supporters, said a "reliable source" had told him Small-Toney's resignation would happen "before 5 o'clock."

Dunham described Small-Toney as being "railroaded," and supporter Marilyn Jackson said, "They just beat her down."

Frances Bright Johnson blamed the managers below Small-Toney, saying they bore responsibility for the problems. Johnson described Small-Toney as "sabotaged."

They pointed to a list of accomplishments during her tenure that included the Waters Avenue redevelopment plan, the Price Street bike lane, drainage improvements, the creation of two new critical response centers and the city's first dog park.

Small-Toney was not at City Hall during the day and did not attend any outside meetings or the afternoon funeral of former Alderman Leo Center.

A call to her city cell phone went unanswered Wednesday evening, and the voice mail message said the mailbox was full and could not take messages.

IF YOU GO

What: Special meeting of Savannah City Council

When: 10 a.m. Thursday

Where: City Hall chambers, 2 E. Bay St.

On the web: Follow reporter @LesleyConn on Twitter for live updates and go to savannahnow.com to view the special meeting online.